Masjid Al Aqsa was the second masjid to be built on earth.

Abu Dharr Radiyallahu Anhu reported that he asked the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, “O Messenger of Allah, which Masjid was built first on earth”? The Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied, “The Sacred Masjid of Makkah”. Abu Dharr Radiyallahu Anhu again asked, “Which was next”? The Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Masjid Al-Aqsa”. Abu Dharr Radiyallahu Anhu further asked, “How long was the period between the building of the two Masjids”? The Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Forty years”. Apart from these, offer your prayer anywhere when it is time to pray, although excellence is in praying in these Masjids”.[Bukhari]

Masjid Al Aqsa is the third holiest site for us muslims in Islam.

Abu Hurayrah (ra) relates that the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “You should not undertake a special journey to visit any place other than the following three Masjids with the expectations of getting greater reward: the Sacred Masjid of Makkah (Ka’bah), this Masjid of mine (the Prophet’s Masjid in Madinah), and Masjid Al-Aqsa (of Jerusalem)”. In another narration the words are, “For three Masjids a special journey may be undertaken: The Sacred Masjid (Ka’bah), my Masjid and Masjid of Jerusalem (Al-Aqsa).[Muslim, Bukhari, Abu Dawud]

Great virtues of praying in Masjid Al Aqsa.

Abu Darda Radiyallahu Anhu relates that the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “A prayer in Makkah (Ka’bah) is worth 1000,000 times (reward), a prayer in my Masjid (Madinah) is worth 1,000 times and a prayer in Al-Aqsa Sanctuary is worth 500 times more reward than anywhere else”.[Tabarani, Bayhaqi, Suyuti]

Anas Ibn Malik Radiyallahu Anhu relates that the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, ”The prayer of a person in his house is a single prayer; his prayer in the Masjid of his people has the reward of 27 prayers; his prayer in the Masjid in which the Friday prayer is observed has the reward of 500; his prayer in Masjid Al-Aqsa (i.e. Al-Aqsa Sanctuary) has a reward of 5,000 prayers; his prayer in my Masjid (the Prophet’s Masjid in Madinah) has a reward of 50,000 prayers, and the prayer in the Sacred Masjid (Ka’bah) has the reward of 100,000 prayers”.[Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]

The importance of donating to Masjid Al Aqsa.

Abdullah Ibn Umar Radiyallahu Anhu relates, I asked the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, “Apostle of Allah, tell us the legal injunction about (visiting) Bayt Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem).” The Apostle of Allah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, ” Go and pray there. If you cannot visit it and pray there, then send some oil to be used in the lamps”.[Bukhari]

Maymunah Bint Sa’d Radiyallahu Anha relates that she asked the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, “O Messenger of Allah, inform us about Bayt Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem)”. He said, “Visit it for prayer “. She further asked, “If one of us cannot visit it, what should we do”? He said, “If you cannot go for prayer then send some oil to be used for its lamps, will be as if he has prayed in it”.[Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud, Tabarani]

The virtues of wearing Ihram from Masjid Al Aqsa.

Umm Salamah Radiyallahu Anha relates that the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “If anyone puts on Ihram for Hajj or Umrah from Masjid Al-Aqsa and then proceeds to the Sacred Masjid (Ka’bah), their past and future sins will be forgiven, or they will be entered into Paradise”.[Abu Dawud]

The blessed land of Masjid Al Aqsa.

Zaid Ibn Thabit Radiyallahu Anhu reports that the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “How blessed is Al-Sham”! The Companions Radiyallahu Anhum asked, “Why is that”? The Messenger Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied, “I see the Angels of Allah spreading their wings over Al-Sham”. Ibn Abbas rdiyallahu Anhu added, “And the Prophets lived therein. There is not a single inch in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) where a Prophet has not prayed or an Angel not stood”.[Tirmidhi, Ahmad]

The Messenger of Allah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said regarding Al-Dajjal: “He will stay in the land forty days; he will enter every place on earth except the Ka’bah, the Prophet’s Masjid, Al-Aqsa Sanctuary and Mount Sinai”.[Ahmad]

Maymunah Bint Sa’d Radiyallahu Anha reports that she asked the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, “O Messenger of Allah, give us a pronouncement about Al-Quds (Jerusalem)”. The Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied, “It is the land where they will be raised (Al-Hashr) and gathered (Al-Mahshar)”.[Ahmad, Tabarani]

Muadh Ibn Jabal Radiyallahu Anhu relates that the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “The Flourishing state of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) (under the non-Muslims) will be taken when Yathrib is in ruins, the ruined state of Yathrib will be when the Great War comes, the outbreak of the Great War will be at the conquest of Constantinople and the conquest of Constantinople when Al-Dajjal (Anti-Christ) comes forth”. He (the Prophet) struck his thigh with his hand and said, “This is as true as you are here or as you are sitting (meaning Muadh Ibn Jabal).[Abu Dawud]

The Messenger of Allah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said regarding the inhabitants of the blessed land, “They and their wives, children and slaves (male and female) are in ribat (guardians, literally a fort) in the cause of Allah”.

[Tabarani)]

Masji Al Aqsa – The best place of residence.

Abdullah Ibn Umar Radiyallahu Anhu reports that the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, There will be migration upon migration. The best of the inhabitants of earth will reside where Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) Alaihisalaam migrated (Jerusalem)”.

[Abu Dawud]

Masji Al Aqsa – The desired site of musa Alaihisalaam.

Abu Hurayrah Radiyallahu Anhu reports that the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “The Angel of death was sent to Musa Alaihisalaam. When he came to Musa, Musa punched him on the eye. The Angel returned to Allah and said, “You sent me to a servant who does not want to die”. Allah ordered the Angel, ‘Return to him and tell him to put his hand on the back of an ox and for every hair that will come under it, he will be granted one year of life’. Musa asked, “O Lord! What will happen after that”? Allah replied, ‘Then death’. Musa decided, let it be now’. Musa then requested Allah to let him die close to the Sacred Land (near Masjid Al-Aqsa) so much so that he would be at a distance of a stone’s throw form it”. Abu Hurayrah Radiyallahu Anhu added, the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam then said, “If I were there, I would show you his grave below the red sand hill on the side of the road”.[Bukhari]

Liberation of Masjid Al Aqsa.

Awf Ibn Malik relates, “I went to the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam during the battle of Tabuk while he was sitting in a leather tent. He said, ‘Awf, Count six signs, between now and the approach of the Hour (Qiyamah/Doomsday): my death, the conquest of Al-Quds (Jerusalem); a plague that will afflict you (and kill you in great numbers) as the plague that afflicts sheep; the increase of wealth to such an extent that even if one is given 100 hundred Dinars (Arabian currency), he will not be satisfied; then an affliction which no Arab house will escape; and then a truce between you and Banu Asfar (i.e. Byzantines) who will betray you and attack you under eighty flags. Under each flag will be twelve thousand soldiers”.[Bukhari]

Masjid Al Aqsa – Mentioned by name in the holy Quran.

Aishah Radiyallahu Anha reports that the Prophet Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam used to recite Surah Al-Isra every night in his prayer: Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) Who took His slave (Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) of Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. (17:1)

Above is a picture showing the full compound of Masjid Al Aqsa, Masjid Al Aqsa is not just a single Masjid, it is the whole compound. There are plenty of hadith above explaining the importance of Masjid Al Aqsa & why we as muslims should visit it. It is also important for our children to understand the importance of our Islamic history & identity, if we don’t teach them they won’t know about it, if they don’t know about it they’re children won’t know about it & soon we will lose our identity.